Toddler Travel Gear Must-Haves

Traveling with your tot? Make sure you're prepared for every bump in the road (or in the air) with these toddler travel accessories.

No surprise here: Toddlers need a lot of gear when they’re on the go. With toddler travel accessories ranging from car seats to toddler travel beds, how can you keep your luggage light (and your budget intact) when you go on vacation? By knowing which toddler gear basics to borrow, bring or leave at home. Check out this list of must-have (and nice-to-have) toddler travel gear to help your family trip go a lot more smoothly.

A car seat. While a car seat’s a given for road trips, the rules are more flexible on flights (although it’s safer if he’s restrained in a device in the seat next to you than in your arms).

If you’re flying, bring a car seat if:

You plan on driving when you get to your destination. Rented car seats aren’t always the best.

Your child will have his own seat on the plane. A car seat will keep him secure.

Look for the label ‘This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.’

Leave it at home if:

You’re allowed (and happy) to keep your little one (under two years old) on your lap during the flight. Be sure to first check with your airline to find out its rules.

You won’t be driving around once you reach your destination.

If your child weights between 22 and 44 pounds you can use a government-approved child safety harness device, CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System), which safely buckles your child in his seat (but it’s only for use on planes, not in cars).

A lightweight umbrella stroller. Even the perkiest pint-size pedestrians occasionally want a rest (and a ride), so a set of wheels is a vacation must-have. Bring along a portable stroller (which can weigh as little as eight pounds) to tote your tot through the airport security line, fold up fast when it’s conveyor belt time, and stash in an overhead compartment once you find your seats. Not all airlines allow this, but many allow you to check gear at the gate for free. Relatively inexpensive, a quick-folding umbrella stroller is also your best bet if you’ll be in and out of a car throughout your trip.

A portable potty seat. There’s obviously no need to lug this toddler travel accessory for a tot who’s still in diapers. But if your toddler’s already a potty pro (or is in the throes of the potty-training process), make room for this in your travel bag. Two totally tote-able options:

A toddler potty seat goes on top of a standard toilet to make the seat the right size for your tot’s tush. If this is what your tyke’s been using at home, bring it on the trip to make that foreign hotel potty seem a lot less scary.

A travel potty chair is a freestanding seat that folds up to fit in your luggage (and may even come with disposable liners) for guys and gals who gotta go on the go.

Both choices come cheap. More good news: Either of these toddler travel accessories work just fine at home.

A booster seat. If your tyke’s home high chair didn’t come with a booster seat, it’s worth it to invest in a lightweight one that can fold up snugly in your suitcase (and function as your growing guy’s feeding seat at home when he outgrows his high chair).

If you already own a booster seat, bring it if:

You’ll be staying with friends or family, and they don’t have a seat to lend your tot.

A travel play tray. One key to surviving travel with kids? Distract, distract, distract — and that’s where a travel play tray really comes in handy. These lap trays snap onto your critter’s car seat or around this waist so you can keep snacks and toys within his reach (bonus for you: he’ll be less likely to drop things on the floor). Pick a lightweight travel tray that’s easy to clean, since it’ll need a wipe-down fairly often.

A toddler travel bed or sleeping bag. Most hotels will rent you a crib or a cot — just call in advance to reserve one before your arrival (and call once more to confirm you’ve got one). But consider buying this toddler travel accessory and bringing your own. For one thing, your child can get pre-trip sleep practice in his toddler travel bed right in his own room. Plus, a toddler travel bed can do double duty as an in-between bed when your little one starts to outgrow his crib. Travel cribs can be expensive, but they ensure your little one a comfortable place to sleep anywhere you go. Opt for an inflatable model, which won’t weigh you down much. An even lighter, less expensive option: Bring a child-sized sleeping bag if you know the floor at your destination will be relatively clean.

View Sources

United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Flying with Children, May 2018.